chased clear leader, led and hit 5th, headed 2 out, soon ridden, weakening when hit last
always behind, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
always behind, tailed off
in touch, challenged after 3 out, ridden and every chance after next, kept on but no extra from last, lost 3rd final strides
in touch, ridden into 3rd after 2 out, hung left when mistake last, kept on but no extra
hit 4th, always towards rear, tailed off
led, blundered 4th, headed next, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened
held up rear of mid-division, hit 3 out, smooth headway next, good run on inner to lead soon after, hit last, driven out
always behind, tailed off
always towards rear
tracked leaders, mistake 1st, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened
mistake 5th, always behind, pulled up before 3 out
held up towards rear, some progress after 3 out, weakened after 2 out
mid-division, stumbled on bend after 5th, headway next, ridden after 2 out, staying on when not fluent and hampered last, finished strongly
mid-division, ridden after 3 out, soon one pace
in touch, not fluent 3 out, ridden after 2 out, stayed on same pace from last
mid-division, hit 3rd, weakened approaching 3 out
chased clear leader, joined leaders 5th, led 2 out, soon ridden and headed, weakened last
mid-division on outer, hit 3 out, headway next, soon ridden, stayed on well from last, snatched 3rd final strides
in touch, not fluent 4th, ridden after 2 out, weakened last
The 'Cheltenham Roar' is taken to reach new heights here as the first Irish favourite of the day, COUSIN VINNY, is taken to provide his young jockey with a historic win; Ainama and Go Native are taken to chase him up the hill. Willie Mullins' gelding won the Champion Bumper here twelve months ago and he is taken to overcome his last-flight mishap last time. Pandorama doesn't reoppose today, and Patrick Mullins, who has ridden the horse every time he has run, is fancied to provide his father with another win in this race. Last year the contest went the way of a strong stayer (Captain Cee Bee scrubbed along some way from home) and like Binocular, the feeling is that Ainama may have to settle for place money. His good Flat speed was seen to decent effect on his hurdling bow at Kempton and he was in the process of winning last time before the hurdles got in the way. Andrew McNamara takes the ride on David Pipe's Torphichen. His form (beating Trenchant last time) looks solid and this classy Flat horse must be a major player, especially as he won't mind any further rain. The stats are against the four-year-old, but then again it was a Pipe who last won it with a four-year-old in 1999 with Hors La Loi III. Red Moloney's wins at Musselburgh have all been bloodless; he was pretty highly rated on the Flat over in Ireland and he must be respected, however the feeling is that Aintree might prove to be more his track. His trainer won this in 2005 with Arcalis but he had chanced his arm against better opposition before making it to Prestbury Park. Go Native would have finished a lot closer to Hurricane Fly (stablemate of the selection) at Leopardstown in December but for clattering the last flight of hurdles. He showed with an easy win last time at Naas that he is no back number today. Question marks had surrounded which race Cousin Vinny would go for but this looks tailor made for him and as long as his jumping holds up, he is taken to storm up the hill in splendid isolation.
Ainama (IRE) 4-5fav (11-6) Held up, smooth headway on outside before 2 out, challenging when not fluent 2 out, every chance flat, not pace of winner towards finish, 2nd of 8, 1 1/2l behind Trenchant (10-11) at Kempton 2m nov hdl Grd 2 (1) gs in Feb.
Alarazi (IRE) 22-1 (11-2) Took keen hold, led, headed well before 2 out, soon weakened, 6th of 8, 30l behind Trenchant (10-11) at Kempton 2m nov hdl Grd 2 (1) gs in Feb.
Bee Sting 50-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, ridden 4th, soon lost place and struggling, tailed off, 8th of 11, well behind Enfant De Lune (11-8) at Lingfield 2m nov hdl (4) sft.
Copper Bleu (IRE) 10-11fav (11-10) Chased leader, led approaching 3 out, headed last, one pace, 2nd of 8, 3 1/2l behind Master of Arts (10-7) at Doncaster 2m nov hdl (4) gs in Jan.
Cousin Vinny (IRE) 4-6fav (11-10) Tracked leader in 2nd, improved to challenge travelling well entering straight, disputed lead approaching last, stumbled on landing and unseated rider at the last in race won by Pandorama (11-10) at Leopardstown 2m 2f nov hdl Grd 1 sft.
Gloucester Evens (10-11) Held up, mistake 2nd, headway 4 out, chased leader 2 out, soon led, pressed approaching last, driven and stayed on strongly, won at Fakenham 2m mdn hdl (4) gs in Feb beating Know The Law (11-2) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
Golan Way 7-2 (11-7) Led until 3 out, ridden and every chance approaching 2 out, kept on same pace, 4th of 8, 4l behind Medermit (11-7) at Ascot 2m nov hdl Grd 2 (1) gs in Dec.
Go Native (IRE) 9-4jt-fav (11-5) Raced 5th, close 5th entering straight, dispued lead travelling well 2 out, pushed along to lead before last, stayed on strongly run-in, eased close home, won at Naas 2m nov hdl Grd 2 sft in Feb beating Roberto Goldback (11-10) by 2l.
Intensifier (IRE) 9-1 (11-7) Mid-division, ridden and lost place before 5th, soon struggling, tailed off, 10th of 11, well behind Bugsy's Boy (11-10) at Plumpton 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Feb.
Kangaroo Court (IRE) 9-4fav (11-5) Towards rear, smooth headway 4 out, challenged winner 2 out, one pace, 2nd of 13, 14l behind Karabak (11-12) at Ascot 2m 3f nh nov hdl (3) gs in Jan.
Kempes (IRE) 11-10 (11-12) Settled mid-division, headway to 5th entering straight, travelled well in 3rd 2 out, challenged after 2 out, led after last, quickened clear, easily, won at Navan 2m hdl hvy in Jan beating Oscar Looby (11-12) by 3l, 9 ran.
Leamington Lad (IRE) 100-1 (10-2) Chased leaders, ridden and weakened after 3 out, blundered and unseated rider 2 out in race won by Sentry Duty (11-9) at Ascot 2m lst hcp hdl (1) gs in Dec, 21 ran.
Leo's Lucky Star (USA) 7-2 (11-7) Held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, ridden after 2 out, soon weakened, 5th of 9, 25l behind Golan Way (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m nov hdl Grd 2 (1) sft in Nov.
Medermit (FR) 14-1 (11-7) Held up last but just behind leaders, mistake 3 out, headway next, challenged last, led flat, all out, won at Ascot 2m nov hdl Grd 2 (1) gs in Dec beating Dee Ee Williams (11-7) by a shd, 8 ran.
Micheal Flips (IRE) 3-1jt-fav (11-8) Held up in mid-division, headway to chase leaders before 5th, led soon after 3 out, clear before last, ridden out, run-in, won at Kempton 2m nov hdl (2) gd in Dec beating Fairyland (10-7) by 7l, 14 ran.
Red Moloney (USA) 2-5fav (11-11) Mid-division, smooth headway to track leaders 4 out, led on bit 2 out, drew clear flat, won at Musselburgh 2m nov hdl (4) gd in Feb beating Houston Dynimo (10-7) by 8l, 11 ran.
Shamari (FR) 10-11fav (11-10) Prominent, chased leader 3 out, led approaching 2 out, shaken up flat, easily, won at Wincanton 2m nov hdl (4) sft in Feb beating Oddshoes (11-3) by 3 1/2l, 8 ran.
Shoreacres (IRE) 2-9fav (11-11) Led, clear and well in command when fell 2 out in race won by Highest Esteem (11-4) at Fontwell 2m 2f nov hdl (4) hvy in Feb, 4 ran.
Somersby (IRE) 5-1 (11-8) Mid-division and keen, headway and mistake 8th, switched right to chase leading pair 2 out, no impression, 3rd of 13, 20l behind Karabak (11-12) at Ascot 2m 3f nh nov hdl (3) gs in Jan.
Torphichen 4-6fav (11-4) Pressed leader, narrow lead from 4th, not fluent 3 out, travelling strongly approaching 2 out, clear before last, easily (no official time taken), won at Sandown 2m 4yo nov hdl (3) sft in Feb beating Trenchant (11-4) by 4l, 8 ran.
Aachen 8-11fav (11-10) Always prominent, second 3 out, led on bit 2 out, blundered last, ran on well, won at Towcester 2m nov hdl (3) hvy in Feb beating Neil Harvey (11-7) by 4l, 8 ran.
